We have all seen that, over time, technology has continued to improve. Gadgets have become more powerful, faster, more efficient and smaller. When mobile phones were first introduced, they were bulky, huge, expensive and just plain cumbersome. The same with many technologies from batteries, video game systems, computers and more. As time has passed and our knowledge base has grown, we’ve worked out the proverbial kinks and these gadgets have gotten worlds better – improving our lives and dramatically changing the way we interact with the world around us and live our day-to-day lives.

It should be expected then, that this is a trend that will continue and we are seeing a bit of the what the future may hold already. Whether we are looking to find Dino-Lite digital microscopes or the best new console video game system, smaller is going to be the name of the game. Nanotechnology continues to grow in utility and accessibility and it continue expand. This has given way to many positive new developments in medical technology and has also give rise to the Smart Phone, tablet and all the powerful tools these provide. What follows are four ways and areas that we can expect to continue to see getting smaller in the future.

Batteries for Alternative Powered Cars Continue to Shrink

As our ability to create tiny, efficient and cost effective technologies continues to improve, the applicability of these ideas also expands. Batteries to power alternative fuel-based cars have long been bulky, heavy and inefficient. This is one area that could see some of the most dramatic changes and improvements with smaller technologies. The University of Illinois (and other educational institutions) are working on technologies that could shrink batteries by as many as 10 times in the near future.

Computer Chips Go Nano

Powerful tiny computer chips are what make Smart Phones, tablets and other “smart” technologies possible. These are incredibly powerful chips that are also incredibly tiny. They are not, however, as small as they could be. Powerful computer chips and processors capable of doing what many of the latest tablets can do, that would be small enough to put in a pair of sunglasses, are currently being tested.

Tiny Biological Chargers

With continued improvements in nanotechnology, testing is being done on tiny biological chargers for mobile devices like Smart Phones, MP3 players, tablets, etc. One of the biological chargers currently being tested involves a strip that converts the extra body heat generated when someone participates in light exercise into electrical energy that is used to charge the device. In the future, a little daily exercise and charging our gadgets may go hand in hand.

Flash Drives As the Future Hub for Data Storage

The future of technology is smaller and more accessible. Technology buffs see a future whereby our endless amounts of personal information are stored on tiny flash drives that can be accessed from pretty much anywhere at any time. All that one needs is a screen – whether it be a laptop, tablet, Smart Phone, Play Station, whatever – which is used to access and manipulate data stored on the flash drive.

The future of technology is a smaller, more powerful and accessible place. Cars that run on alternative fuels may be more fiscally and logistically feasible due to shrinking battery sizes. Computers more powerful than the best on the market today may be available in a humble pair of sunglasses. Charging devices could be as simple as a quick walk and accessing data as simple as finding our preferred screen